20 before 40 (study/quiz 2)

This list is originally from Relevant. I wasn't going to include the blurbs they posted but on second thought they seem relevant. LOL I'M SO CLEVER MUST BE COZ I'M ALMOST 40

1. Read the Entire Bible Cover-to-Cover

"Reading the Bible from front to back may sound like a daunting task, but with read the Bible in year resources like the YouVersion app, it’s a manageable goal. Even though you may have already read most of scripture throughout the course of your life, reading it as a linear narrative, one book at a time, gives you a new perspective on the story of the Gospel."

No way in hell. LOL.

2. See Your Favorite Band Live at Least Once

"One day, you’ll want to tell your kids, friends or family about that time you drove all night to see U2 play a stadium in Chicago, found tickets to a sold-out Sufjan Stevens show at a small venue in your hometown or saw Sigur Ros under the stars at an amphitheater. Concert tickets can be expensive, but it's worth it to see a great band live."

The only band I wish I could see that I haven't yet (except for the Dead who are no longer touring RIP Jerry) is Calexico. So I could do that. Although I feel like maybe I already have too many stories about seeing my favorite bands live and nobody really wants to hear any more of them anyway.

Oh by the way did I tell you how I've seen Sufjan Stevens three times and once in a club so small I was like 10 feet away from him and he just had a poster and a guitar and he was so amazing that I fell in love with him and when I left it was like we broke up? 

Oh or the time I saw Ani Difranco in a tiny club on Valentine's Day and she passed out the Valentine's Day streusel her partner sent her in the mail?

Or how when I saw Neko Case and she sang a cover of a Magnetic Fields song I literally wanted to die I was so happy?

Should I tell you more stories? 

Also I don't have kids so thanks for also rubbing that in.

3. Run a Marathon (or Some Kind of Endurance Race)

"No matter what your current fitness level is, there are lots of options for you to take part in an endurance race. Whether it’s a 5K, Tough Mudder or a full-length marathon, choose a distance you’ll actually have to train for a few months to complete. Part of the joy of the accomplishment is looking back at all of the hard work you put in."

DO YOU KNOW ME AT ALL QUIZ

4. Watch Every Film on the AFI Top 100

"Back in 1998, the American Film Institute polled 1,500 leaders in the film community and asked them to help assemble the top 100 American movies ever made. The list (which was updated in 2007) contains some movies that you’ve probably already seen (like Rocky, Forest Gump, Star Wars and Jaws) but its the deeper cuts (like Rear Window, Stagecoach, Duck Soupand All Quiet on the Western Front) showcasing the evolution of filmmaking and American pop culture, that make the task of watching each film such a rich experience."

This has been a dream of mine but I'm not sure I'll be able to see all of them. I will post a follow-up discussing the feasibility of such a mini-adventure.

Also, REAR WINDOW IS NOT A DEEP CUT WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU ANYWAY

5. Pick a Country and Go Visit

"Before you turn 40, pick at least one country that you’ve always wanted to visit, and make it happen. Create a plan to save a little money and store up some vacation time to go to the one place you’ve always wanted to see." 

I want to go to Fiji but the problem is that I don't so much have a job right now so taking a whirlwind trip across the world and staying in a little hut over the water may be slightly out of our price range right now. But thanks for the bizarrely general and price-insensitive suggestion quiz.

Just kidding. No sour grapes here. In fact, why don't I just buy Fiji? How much could it cost, anyway? 10 million jillion dollars? It's way out in the middle of nowhere, right? I'm sure I'll get enough money before I turn 40. It's all about making it happen in the end. I'm envisioning success and 1 million billion dollars in my pocket. Let's make a deal, Fiji. [eye roll]

6. Speak a Second Language

"If you are picking a country to go visit, why not try to also learn the language spoken there?"

Obvs.

7. Write Letters to the Five People Who Have Most Impacted Your Life

"Don’t make the mistake of not telling the important people in your life how much they’ve impacted you. Even if the letters are short, sometime before you turn 40, think of the five people who have helped shape you as an adult, and let them know what they’ve meant to you."

This is pretty good but since I have four parents and one spouse and five siblings how would I choose? This is dumb. I'm unhappy.

8. Watch Every Season of a Few Great TV Shows

"We are living in a golden age of television, in which critically acclaimed shows are the new Great American Novels. Pick out a few of the shows that will be remembered for making serialized TV important again, and watch them in their entirety. Marathon through a series like Arrested Development, The Walking Dead, The Wire or Breaking Bad, and see how the medium of television was reinvented in your generation."

Ok, well since I've seen all of the seasons of all of the shows you've listed I'm counting this one as done. Also, since you didn't mention Battlestar Galactica or Firefly (IN ONE SHORT SEASON THAT SHOW WAS BETTER THAN ALL THE REST OF TV COMBINED), you're dead to me.

Oh, but there is one season of Bob's Burgers I haven't seen yet. And since Fox is a jerk who pulled it off Netflix I'm going to have to buy it on iTunes I guess unless I just don't add this to my list I mean it's good but it's the principle of the thing, you know, and no before you ask I'm not subscribing to hulu just to get one season of Bob's Burgers PLEASE.

9. Give Away Something Really Expensive

"Before you turn 40, you should know the feeling of giving something away that costs a lot of money. Maybe you pool money with a couple of friends to buy a car for a single mom in need. Maybe it’s plane tickets for friend to go on a mission trip. Maybe it’s a bunch of really nice Christmas presents for kids who wouldn’t get any otherwise. At some point in your twenties or thirties, make it your personal goal to save enough money to give someone else something amazing."

You know we ended up giving our landlord in San Francisco almost $100K over the course of 2.5 years so I'm counting that. Also, we lived in San Francisco 5 years and if you notice, that was just the amount we gave to ONE of them. If you don't like it, eat a dick. I'm getting annoyed with this quiz.

10. Make Amends With Any 'Enemies'

"Once you hit your late twenties, you are officially too old to still harbor bitterness toward anyone else. Before you hit 40, make an effort to make amends with anyone in your life that you have any ill feeling toward. As Christians, there’s no excuse to carry unforgiveness—especially through adulthood."

Oh, ok. I see now. This is a Christian List. Technically I'm Christian but I'm starting to think this quiz does not accurately reflect my faith. 

Also, what's this about late twenties? I'm 39, assshit.

Maybe I need to make peace with the author of this quiz because he's definitely my new "enemy."

11. Apply for Your Dream Job

"Don’t look back later in life with regret, wondering what could have been. Even if you don’t think you’re qualified for the job you’ve always dreamed of, at some point in your twenties or thirties, apply for the job you've always wanted. It may not lead to any dramatic career choice, but unless you give it a shot, you will never know."

Done. I didn't get it. Next. 

12. Take the Stage. Alone

"Preach a sermon. Try stand-up comedy. Deliver a TED-like lecture. Find an opportunity to be alone on a stage in front of a crowd with nothing to move them but a microphone and your own thoughts. Public speaking can be terrifying—but it can also be exhilarating ."

I have wanted to take stand-up comedy classes but I settled on improv, which I did for 2.5 years. IS THAT NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU, QUIZ?!?!? Besides, I've given tons of presentations and taught 8 college classes on my own WHEN WILL YOUR DEMANDS ON MY SOUL END

13. Go on a Road Trip of at Least a Thousand Miles

"There’s something philosophical that happens when you’re on the road for more than 15 hours, exploring America through highways and interstates. Just consult the work of Jack Kerouac and you’ll see that the journey isn’t about the destination—it’s about the road trip."

I just drove across the country with my mom when we moved from SF to NC. Thank you for your insight into what happens when I'm on the road for more than 15 hours. Who is this Jack Kerouac. He must be one of the deeper cuts of the beat generation.

Trying. So. Hard. To. Remain. Calm.

Although that reminds me of Carlos Castaneda. Maybe I should add eating peyote to this list. 

Actually, I should probably have eaten peyote before reading this list.

14. Write a Short Story

"Everyone has a good story in them. Take the time to craft at least one good short story at some point in your twenties or thirties. You don’t ever have to publish it or even share it with anyone else, but it’s an exercise of self-analysis that everyone should go through at least once."

I have written lots of short stories but most of them got lost when my motherboard became an hero. Thanks for the mammories. Although maybe I should write another one. It can be about this fucking quiz and how it made me go all the way to San Francisco to cannonball off the Golden Gate Bridge. 

15. Go On a Mission/Humanitarian Aid Trip

"Sure, sometimes “short-term mission trips” have been criticized for offering short-term solutions to long-term needs, but if you find the right destination and the right cause, it can be a life-changing experience. But remember, the point of a trip isn’t to teach others about what you know—it’s also about allowing them to teach you from what they have been through."

I'll bet I could learn a lot from the Others who live in Fiji. And also, I get it with the scare-quotes around short-term mission trip. I'll plan on staying at least a year and a half. Is that not-short-term enough?

16. Learn to Play an Instrument

"Grab that old guitar sitting in the attic, pick up a harmonic or go ahead and purchase that drum set you’ve always wanted. Who knows? Maybe you even a have a hidden talent that’s just waiting to be discovered."

Great. Done. Although there are no old guitars sitting in our attic fwiw and also I'm pretty sure drum sets don't make great impulse buys. I'll be sure and ask my husband, after I "go ahead and purchase" one of course. I wouldn't want to miss out on discovering I have a hidden talent.

And WHAT THE FUCK IS A HARMONIC. Seriously. I'm losing it.

17. Find a Mentor and a Mentee

"You’re never too old to learn from someone older than you—and to teach someone younger."

One question: do cats count?

18. Memorize the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostle’s Creed, the Great Commission and the Beatitudes

"By memorizing these relatively short items, you’ll be able to recite four key principles of Christian faith—how to pray (the Lord’s Prayer), your calling (the Great Commission), the teachings of the Gospel (the Apostle’s Creed) and how to live (the Beatitudes)."

I need to meditate.

19. Face Your Fear

"Whether it’s public speaking, an aversion to water, the fear of rejection or a dislike of flying, you don’t have to totally conquer your fears in your twenties or thirties, but you should face them. Sign up for swimming lessons, go to Toast Masters or even seek counseling. Taking steps to control your fear as an adult will make sure it doesn’t have to control you."

[deeeeeeeeeeep breath] 

my fear... SIR... is that someone will expect me to have done all these gd things before i turn 40 in 105 days. 

20. Sponsor a Child

"There are a ton of organizations (World Vision, Compassion International, ChildFund International), that will let you sponsor a child in need for less than your cell phone bill. Sometime between before your 40th birthday, commit to a year—the letters you’ll receive alone make the whole experience worth it. "

Sometime between before my 40th birthday I will definitely consider this. 

Thank you for dramatically saving this one until the end. 

This list blows.

Balls?

The Spain - Netherlands game was (hopefully) the worst soccer game ever. It was TERRIBLE. Embarrassing for the Germans for not passing them by, honestly. And for Uruguay, honestly. That game was GOOD.

So anyway, I'm going to improv tonight. We'll see. There was definitely some drama on the improv front this weekend, so I'm feeling a little hesitant. It's hard to be serious about something at the same time I'm insecure about my position and talent, and also have fun at the end of a long day of work. So, yeah. I've decided that I'm no longer putting all my eggs in that basket. Instead, I'm going to work on those goals I listed.

I am feeling good about the embroidery one, and Sanks has already agreed to let me cut his hair. I think if I bought some scissors he might change his mind--that's how he is.

I watched the Wire this weekend - season four. Dang, that is sad sad SAD. I sure do wish I could solve all the problems in the world. No child deserves that. No Child Left Behind is such a joke. As if passing a standardized test would even solve all the problems for children today. I want to be a foster mother. I've told Sanks, but I think he thinks I'm joking. Silly Sanks.

Well, I better go look up glass-blowing classes.

There seems to be a cricket in my office. Heaven help me.

Wah, wah, wah...

See, is that a baby crying or a slide guitar? Who knows? It's all a matter of perception. Just saying.

Rehearsal last night was... ok. I'll probably write more about it in my improv blog, but maybe not! Maybe I'll just stuff it down, deep inside, where all my other non-memorable, disappointing and deflating experiences go. Yay! Feels better that way. ;-)

I finished the embroidery last night while I finished watching the last episode of Firefly. I love that series. I got it on sale at Borders recently and I'm really glad I got it. It's a subtly good show -- just consistently good quality, not using flashy stupid things to get your adrenaline going, but with enough exciting scrapes to keep the show fast-paced. It's really good. My favorite episode is definitely "Out of Gas" but "Heart of Gold" is a close second. The latter was never even aired! I hate when networks give up on brilliant shows just because they hate me and are out to get me. Another one I want is Jericho, but that ended tragically (i.e. with a huge unanswered cliffhanger). Firefly ended reasonably well, although the movie Serenity did a good job on some story lines and on others SUCKED. Anyway, moving on...

So the little embroidery thingy-do is done, but now I have to make it into a pillow or something. I don't know about that. I want to start a sewing project, actually, but 1) I'm nervous, and 2) I can't decide on any fabrics! This is totally a good thing for me. I need practice making safe (relatively inconsequential) decisions. It will build up my confidence for when I have to make big (real) decisions.

So I'm going back to work. Today I get to design things (newsletter, brochure) so I'm excited about that! This is the part of my job that I really love.

Charity :-)

Survey says!

I am drinking a coke. Yes, caffeine, high fructose corn syrup, pure sugar calories. And you know what? It's delicious.

I weighed myself this morning and have lost five pounds since I started working out and watching what I eat. Yay! I swear I thought I was living in the twilight zone because nothing I did seemed to make a difference. Until today! Yesterday I did yoga when I got home from work, and then went to the gym and walked on a treadmill and climbed on the stairmaster. When I got home I made spaghetti and put some not-chicken nuggets on it. YUM!

When I came home, I watched LOST. Awesome. I think I'm going to end up buying the whole series someday. I just love it. I especially love this whole "no more questions; only answers" approach, because now as I'm watching I'm realizing that there were so many questions I had forgotten most of them! Thus, I want to go back and watch earlier episodes to catch up on the questions!

I have been stressed out as heck this week - for one reason after another, I really don't want to go into it right now - so Sanks suggested last night that this weekend become, officially, "Happy Happy Joy Joy Weekend o-10" (I actually came up with the title, but the ideas were mostly his). We're going go-karting, and video-arcading, and maybe even batting-caging! I have a lot of work to do, too, so while I'm doing that, he will go skeet shooting with his friends. I know he's excited because we'll be spending time with his friends, and he has been frustrated that he feels obligated to divide his time between me and them, rather than spending time with us together. I'm actually excited about it, too, since his friends are really fun! They just are usually doing stuff like travelling (which I can't afford), clubbing (which I hate and can't afford) or going to house parties (which I hate). So now he has stumbled upon something we all like!! Yay, Sanks!

I really love Tuesdays now. I have made it my official "Relaxation Weeknight o-10." I am always at the theatre Mondays and Wednesdays, frequently at the theatre on Thursdays, and sometimes on Friday and/or Saturdays. So yeah, I really love Tuesday nights.

Oh, and last night Ricky Gervais was on The Daily Show to talk about his new HBO show, The Ricky Gervais Show. I watched the first episode of the show and was soooooooooo excited. It's an animated version of the very fist podcast - the first episode of the first season - of his show with Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington.

Hilarious! (Image from the HBO website)

And yes, the title of this blog IS meaningless.
Charity

ruddy

I am calling retired professors as part of my job today; asking them if they have any items to add to our Writers' Display Case. I just got off the phone with a man who stopped me when I introduced myself, and thoughtfully and carefully and enthusiastically told me:

Charity (my last name here).... No novelist, however clever, could begin to come up with a name as wonderful as yours.

That was pretty nice.

Another good thing about today is that I found out that I lost a pound and a half this week, bringing me halfway to my initial weight loss goal, and a third of the way to my total goal.

Also, I'm getting close on Harry Potter. With excitement, anticipation, anxiety, and melancholy (the last book ever!) I continue, one or two chapters a night closer to finding out the answers.


Which reminds me (Daniel Radcliffe was great), I saw Extras, Series 2: Extra Fabulous, I should say. I pretty much have loved every episode. I'll have to buy the lot of them, I suppose.


Are you having a laugh?

good news? are you kidding?

No, seriously. There is some good stuff to share. In no particular order:

1) I have gotten 8 interviews done for my dissertation! 30 minutes into the last one, which was yesterday, my silly little digital voice recorder shut off. It's an Olympus WS-100, and I love it because it was very cheap and until yesterday had been somewhat reliable. I'm not sure what happened yesterday. It issued forth a nervous beep, I picked it up and saw it flashing "Lo" and an empty battery, and then it immediately turned itself off. Hmm, that was weird, I thought, because I always anal-ly check the battery before I leave. Luckily, the part of the interview that I really needed most to be in his words was captured pre-meltdown (this I consider a great blessing, since we actually did the interview backwards as it turned out, and under normal circumstances I would have missed that part!). The crazy part was that after this, I started frantically writing down the things he said and then my pen ran out of ink! No, I'm not kidding! So I had to stop him and Bless his heart, he offered me a pen. What a very nice guy he was. I love interviewing acupuncturists. I have met some really great people. I'll never forget the sweet man who told me, "You will have many successes" at the end of our interview. I am actually looking forward to transcribing that one. Of course, I'm almost done with the acupuncturist interviews (yay!) so I'll soon have to move on to physicians. Eek. I'm a little more nervous about them. Well, once thing at a time.

2) I saw Transformers. Awesome. It's not the cartoon version. Get over it, nerds. It's fiction anyway.



From this website.

3) I finally bought a new iPod to replace the one that was viciously and maliciously stolen from my car during that thunder storm. Poor Jeffrey, out there alone in this world, probably he ended up in the locker of some rude rich teenager troublemaker who was disappointed that the iPod he lucked upon when he and his friends were causing random destruction of the neighborhood cars was a pre-video version. Poor little Jeffrey. It was hard for me to replace my sweet little boy, who also happened to be very expensive to replace. I ended up buying another one online at the Apple Store. It was a pretty good price; I got the 30 GB Video-playing iPod. I don't really need one that big or with video-playing capability, but it was the smallest one they had. The best part is that I could get little Jeffrey, Jr. engraved. He's so sweet, and this time I got the black one. I'm really enjoying it.



4) My stepdad is getting better and better. He should be going back to work in a week or so, light duty at first. I'm so lucky that they caught his blockage before he had a heart attack. Life is good.

5) I am on Weight Watchers and finally feel like I am gaining control over how I look. I figured, I'm turning 30 in a couple of months; I don't know what I want to do to celebrate (nothing seems exciting enough to match how truly excited I really am about it, in some very sick-feeling way) but I know I want to look as good as possible doing it. I've been exercising regularly for some time now but only after I started watching what I eat have I begun to lose weight. It feels really good. I look forward to fitting into my clothes again. Maybe I'll buy a new skirt or something, although I'm actually pretty happy with all of my clothes, I just wish I fit into them without looking like a white-collar hooker. :)

From this website.

6) In honor of my monumental birthday, I have decided to get a portrait made (photography). I'm pretty excited about that, and I know my family members will be excited to have a portrait of me that is less than 12 years old. I wish my cats could be in it, but I'd like to get it made somewhere outside the city, or in a park or something, and I don't really think the cats would enjoy the trip. I'm starting to think that maybe I'll try to get it made on my birthday. Making this decision has been strangely empowering. Most people get portraits made when they get engaged or married, or have a baby. Getting this portrait made is like saying that I am enough. It's empowering, but it's not actually how I saw myself spending my thirtieth birthday. Sometimes I get pretty sad about the things in my life that I don't have that I always wanted, but the truth is, when I manage to forget about the social pressures or socially constructed expectations (of others and of myself), I realize that my life is exactly how I want it to be. I would like to have kids one day, but I can, as soon as I get a stable job. It's funny, that's kind of how I always wanted to do it anyway. I don't actually enjoy being in romantic relationships. Sometimes I laugh when I catch myself mourning the lack of one in my life.

7) I am not sure if I have emphasized in the past how much I love the show "What Not to Wear" on TLC. If I had to choose between a What Not to Wear episode and a Top Chef episode, I would be very stressed out. (Although it does alarm me how many of the worst dressed people actually watch the show, apparently having learned nothing.)

From this website.

8) Speaking of looking good, I am really digging my shorter hair. The front layers follow my jaw line, and the back layers rest at the top of my back. This guy did a great job. I hope he's still there when I go back (the turnover rate at my salon is higher than the one at McDonald's, I swear). I'm thinking about getting my hair done before my portrait. How luxurious. I can't wait until I get a real job.

9) Oh, speaking of real jobs, UNCG is hiring! I probably won't get the job (and wouldn't want it, actually) because they are trying to be more of a research university (the way many state schools are going, in attempting to get more funding), but it's so nice to know that schools in Greensboro actually do hire people. :) Of course, I must admit that this makes it seem unlikely that they will hire an adjunct lecturer for the year after I graduate, and I was kind of hoping to get a job like that, since they're much less research-oriented than tenure track positions (and therefore more perfect for me, aside from the instability variable. Anyway, seeing this position advertised makes me very excited about the possibility of actually getting a job, period! I mean, exclamation point!

10) Sometimes I think that maybe I'm thirty and single because my potential family is out there waiting for me to get a job in that town and then move there, making it possible for my intended family to find me. How exciting to know that somewhere out there is a place for me. I just have to find it. And the fact is, I have no choice but to find it. :) And in the meantime, my life is a lot less complicated and stressful than it could be.

The moral of the story:

Life really is what you make of it. Two people, both given the same pile of shit to work with, may choose to a) mope and complain and feel bad, or b) make a shit sandwich. (If you haven't seen Drowning Mona, you really should.) See, I have my moments of optimism, too!



Charity :)

why i love michael moore.

I gotta watch this movie, yo. But it's not just healthcare that makes me love Michael Moore. It's his vehement berating of Wolf Blitzer and CNN and mainstream media in general on "The Situation Room" yesterday.

Although he insists he doesn't speak in soundbites, I want to point out this quote:

"You've fudged the facts to the American people now for I don't know how long – about healthcare, about the war... When are you going to stand there and apologize to the American people for not bringing the truth to them that isn't sponsored by some major corporation?"

Yeah, when are you going to do that, mainstream media?

My friend had a bumper sticker when we were in high school--I'm sure you've all seen this one--that said "If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention." Sometimes I get really upset, because there are so few outraged people in the United States. Are we all just dumb? Or even worse, do we just not care? I think what it is, is that shit is so messed up right now people are paralyzed. Hopefully people will wake up and demand change soon, though. Before this Supreme Court finally takes away our freedom of speech. More than it already has, that is...

Michael Moore's website.

Some interesting items.

Confessions of a Matchmaker: This new A&E reality series follows the attempts of a matchmaker in Buffalo, NY to make the love dreams of the seemingly hopeless come true. Selected quotes: "Look at you; you picked doughnuts over sex," and "You are way gay." Recommended for shit-talkers and embittered singles.


The Painted Veil: This movie stars Naomi Watts and Ed Norton, with a strong supporting role played by Liev Schrieber, Naomi Watts' babydaddy. Set mostly in rural China in the middle of a cholera epidemic in 1925, this film brought memories of the "rice water stool" my former roommate told me about while studying for her M.P.H. Luckily, the story, the acting, and the breathtaking scenery (filmed largely in Guilin, Guangxi in southern China) distracts one from the disturbing images that phrase creates in the mind. The story didn't end as I would have liked, but it worked very well in retrospect. I'd like to read the novel by W. Somerset Maugham. Recommended.


Volver: I had been looking forward to this film for some time. The director, Almodovar, is one I want to like more than I actually like. The actresses do a great job. I found the movie entertaining, but it seemed to move slowly. And yet, the story was very complicated. The images in the film were nice, and again, the actresses gave powerful performances (not just Penelope Cruz). It was strange: at the end of the movie, I was left with several unanswered questions, and yet I found myself not caring very much. Compelling overall, though. Recommended.


Pandora: This is a neat website that will create radio stations based on the music you like. You give it a song or artist and with the help of the "music genome project" Pandora will make a playlist based on characteristics of that song or artist. As it plays more songs, you can continue to provide input, and it will continue to modify accordingly. Highly recommended.


Weeds: I rented the first season of this show and really enjoyed it. Mary Louise Parker does a great job, and although I have some ethical issues around racial portrayals in the show, I recognize the relative impossibility of perfection and think overall the show is a good one. And I love Elizabeth Perkins. I can't wait to see the second season, but I hear it's not quite as good. Season one recommended.


Top Chef Miami: Not nearly as engrossing as the second season, but it only just began, and I think maybe I'm just still worn out from the last season, which was emotionally draining and also highly irritating. It should be pretty interesting though, since the contestants appear to be very talented. Half-heartedly recommended.

Stay tuned for Hollywoodland, The First 48 Hours, Shin Chan, and more!